Taking care of business
J
by Maria Merlino
ackie Fitzpatrick sits at her desk at Conestoga Bank’s Broad and Porter branch where she is VP, Market Manager. The St. Maria Goretti ’94 graduate wears a power suit and many hats with her signature long hair. Four years ago, she made history when she was unanimously elected as the first woman president of the South Philadelphia Business Association (SPBA), the oldest business organization in the area, founded in 1897. Wanting to get out of the house while the kids were in school, she started working part-time as a teller at the bank’s drive-thru. “I was working 16 hours a week then,” she says. “I now work 60 hours a week. But I’m always home to make dinner for my family.” As leader of the SPBA, she brought her skills of team building and cash management to the table. She also instituted some innovative ways and means. “We’re attracting a lot of new members due to the change in the business model,” she explained. “We’re evolving from a social club to more of a networking resource with speakers and political activism.”
She is especially proud of the growth of the SPBA’s Scholarship Fund that benefits local high school seniors. In addition to proceeds from membership dues, tickets purchased for the annual Person of the Year Dinner support the fund and increase the number of scholarships available to students. “There is a minimum of 12 scholarships of $1000 awarded per student. This gives them the push they need for college. Books are expensive. Our hope is to give out 15 scholarships, this year.” Scholarships enable the business community to give back to their neighbors and celebrate the achievements of some of the city’s best and brightest students. The ultimate goal for Fitzpatrick? “We would love to have students come back to South Philly to open up new businesses and medical offices.” prh For more information about the South Philadelphia Business Association, visit www.southphiladelphiaba.org or email spba1897@gmail.com The South Philadelphia Business Association is a member of the Philadelphia RowHome (PRH) Business Network
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